Being named one of the “Coolest Black Families in America” by Ebony magazine is a hard title for anyone to live up to, but Tinka Barnes has earned that title, as well as doctor, wife, mother, community leader, and role model…just to name a few!
Growing up in the inner city of Los Angeles, California , Tinka’s family struggled to make ends meet, and she had few role models. Often she would tag along with her dad who owned a janitorial business. Her parents, along with local church members, instilled in her the importance of a strong work ethic, education, and service to the community. Tinka’s interest in medicine began when she injured her hip at age 9. Her injury required multiple trips to the doctor, after which she convinced him to make a presentation to her class about health care career options.
Tinka recalls, “Initially, I was attracted to the paycheck and the stability that a career in medicine offered me and my future family. As the first college graduate in my immediate family, my childhood continues to impact how I live and practice today.”
As a full-spectrum family physician in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program, Tinka works at Swope Health South, a multi-disciplinary community health center that provides services to the Kansas City, Missouri area. Most of her patients are Medicaid or Medicare recipients or do not have insurance, sometimes traveling over 80 miles to receive treatment. Recently, she noticed that many of her patients have been negatively impacted by the economy resulting in lost jobs and lost insurance coverage. She relishes the fact that her clinic serves as a safety net for those in need. Frequently patients tell her, ‘Dr. Barnes you’re the first person who has really listened to me and taken the time to explain things to me.’ Providing the best care is something she takes great pride in doing. “When you come to my clinic, you’re treated like family and getting ‘Cadillac’ service; just because it is a community clinic does not mean that that you get sub-par service. We want to ensure that people are getting the best treatment, education, and medication, and we will be there to work with them through any concerns they might have.”
Outside of the clinic, Tinka works tirelessly in her community. She frequently works with schools, doing presentations on topics like sex education and obesity. During these presentations, she serves as an educator and a role model. Her goal is to show those in her community that through education, hard work, and dedication, you can accomplish great things. During her presentations, she also tries to incorporate her lifelong passion for West-African dance. By highlighting it as an alternative hobby or exercise option, it also allows her to increase cultural awareness and music appreciation. Her future initiatives include recruiting one of her friends who is a vegetarian to do a nutrition class at her clinic for patients with diabetes and hypertension. In addition to her work with her patients and in her community, Tinka also serves as Vice President of the National Medical Association’s Greater Kansas City Medical Society and is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. At the end of the day, Tinka feels very blessed to be part of a great community and supported by a loving family. Each day she works hard to juggle all of her different roles, but she could not envision herself doing anything else!
